"My Push" going trad only

[wcdurand]

Last year harvested my first trad animal, a Blue wildebeest. So the beginning of the year I made a decision to do trad only. So no rifles no compounds! What a test of patience! Trip after trip and no opportunity while all the accompanying guys filling up there freezers. If I had my compound many chances could have had between thirty and forty yards. I set up my blacktail elite 53# with full metal jackets 400 spine, simmons tigersharks and adapters 250gr and inserts 75gr giving total of 620gr arrows. But eventually I got it right. My confidence is getting there now.



The two Impala shot within ten minutes of each other. Both complete pass through.

[Jasper2]

You guys in Africa make me so jealous....a wildebeest and two impalas for your first 3 trad animals....Wow!

[highlow]

I would bet though that if you had shot a hundred animals with the wheels, they wouldn't even come close to the feeling of satisfaction you got taking them with trad gear. Compound shooters just don't get it.  Congratulations.  

[highlow]

After sending that post, it occurred to me to ask about the hunting opportunities in SA. Being a resident of that country, did you have to employ an outfitter or are there public lands open to archery? And how far do you have to travel?

[wcdurand]

Highlow it is something I will remember for ever. As resident I don't have to employ an outfitter. But there is no public lands like in US States. We do bookings at private farm owners who advertise hunting opportunities or hunt at friends who have game on their farms. The hunting income from overseas hunters amounts to some serious revenue for South African farm owners.

[MnFn]

Very cool. Really like the photo.
Congratulations!
G

Way to go! Those are some fine impalas!

Bisch

Originally posted by wcdurand:
Highlow it is something I will remember for ever. As resident I don't have to employ an outfitter. But there is no public lands like in US States. We do bookings at private farm owners who advertise hunting opportunities or hunt at friends who have game on their farms. The hunting income from overseas hunters amounts to some serious revenue for South African farm owners.

And I can't wait to get back over there to help out one of those farm owners!            

Bisch

[wcdurand]

Let me know when you are here Bisch. Would like to meet you!

[BRITTMAN]

WOW very nice!

[Friend]

Confidence in being on course will provide many future successful yields.

Congrats!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats.  Some fine critters you have there.

[Dry Creek]

Congrats

[mt-tom]

Very cool!  Congratulations.

Tom

[Bar_BN]

Awesome Congrats

[Thumper Dunker]

That's too cool.

[J-dog]

Those buggers are the epitome of the term "greased lightning" when it comes to shooting them.

Was told by a PH after missing one twice due to them dropping that "if your gonna shoot them NOT drinking aim for the ground beneath their chest" that is an exaggeration of course but it is TOO far a stretch.

Great pics!!!!

[wcdurand]

Thank you everyone. J-dog you are correct, they are very quick on response. Silencing your bow is very important. Only critter over here reacting faster is warthogs in my mind! Twenty yards shots is pushing it because of them so fast. Also they are usually in herds and many eyes watching and many noses in the wind. Single rams usually your best option when on the foot.

[Wiley Coyote]

Congrats!!!  

[Caughtandhobble]

My friend it certainly looks like you are starting off well... I dropped the compound in 2012 and never looked back. I can tell you that personally I have not once wished that I had a compound while hunting or otherwise. I will also tell you that it took me a couple years before that to get the confidence to shoot accurately enough to hunt with a longbow. I was lucky in 2012 to meet some world class shooters that really helped my shooting.

Enough about me, I was just trying to boost your confidence. Good luck and keep up the great shooting!!!